John Mawson has been recognised for his hard work in his local British Heart Foundation (BHF) shop and won a Volunteer of the Year Award.
The BHF are recognising their 18,000 retail volunteers who generously volunteer their time in shops and stores by awarding specially selected volunteers across the county with a Volunteer of the Year Award.
John first joined the British Heart Foundation’s Bishop Auckland shop in 2017 and since then, he has become a full-time volunteer and the beating heart of the shop itself.
Known for his encyclopaedic knowledge of electrical goods, John is meticulous in his safety checks, often inspecting items twice to ensure they meet evolving standards.
Annie Cunningham, Regional Manager at British Heart Foundation, said: “John trains new volunteers and team members across departments, shares the latest updates on recalls and tech trends, and supports shop openings and refits across the region.
“John is also beloved for his thoughtful gestures, from remembering everyone’s birthdays to showing up in full festive costumes to boost fundraising and morale.
“Whether he’s helping customers, mentoring trainees, or answering phone calls, John brings energy, compassion, and unwavering dedication to everything he does.
“His colleagues describe him as an outstanding team member, a true ambassador for the charity and someone who embodies the BHF’s values every single day.
“Simply put, every shop needs a John, and we’re lucky he’s chosen to give his time to ours.”
Speaking of his win, John Mawson said: “It’s so nice to be appreciated by other people.
“I’ve volunteered at the BHF for eight and a half years now and still enjoy it.
“I’ve got much more confidence now than when I first started, and it’s given me a chance to make friends and be part of a great team.”
In a survey of BHF charity shop volunteers, 7 in 10 BHF volunteers said meeting people is the most important thing they get out of volunteering and 94 per cent said volunteering with the BHF fits around their life and is flexible.
Volunteer roles at the BHF are varied and include sorting through donations, arranging window displays, operating tills, helping customers, and assisting in the warehouse.
The BHF also offers digital roles, helping to photograph and list items from home.
The charity also offers drop-in ‘taster’ volunteer sessions, allowing people to volunteer for an hour or two with no ongoing commitment.
To find out about volunteering with the BHF visit: bhf.org.uk/volunteer .
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
